Sublingual salivary gland granuloma as a husbandry-induced disease in a Timor gray parrot

Psittacines kept as pets show a predisposition to vitamin A deficiency conditions. The lack of a varied diet, over-long storage times for seed and no knowledge regarding species specific feeding behaviour all lead to squamous cell epithelium metaplasia in the region of beak, oesophagus and trachea. The submandibular tumour of the sublingual salivary glands in parrots also belongs to this group of deficiency conditions. A granuloma of the right sublingual salivary gland in a Timor African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erythacus timneh) is described. It was classed as husbandry-dependent on the basis of an appropriate case history and a thorough assessment of the environment. The clinical appearance, the surgical procedure, follow-up treatment and the occurrence of this tumour are related with the use of illustrations.